Five tennis players charged with domestic violence or assault, ft. Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios and more

Alexander Zverev’s domestic violence case was one of the most talked-about during the 2024 French Open.

Sports, sports legends and the fame associated with them would make anyone think that it is a dream life to live. It is true, given the fact that their achievements are seen as that of the nation. However, it comes with a lot of hard work and discipline, not only in their professional careers but also in their personal lives. They are seen as role-models and numerous people get inspired by these legends.

There are always exceptions that can’t be considered as examples, of those who have stepped out of line and been accused of a few misdoings. The happening could be for multiple reasons, but the focus on their lives is forever. It could be their personal life, yet the day they represent the nation, it becomes a public life.

In this article, let’s look at five tennis players who have been accused of domestic violence:

5. Isaac Frost

Controversy seems to be more in the career of Isaac Ido Ellis Frost than his achievements. Frost was arrested for punching and strangling a pregnant woman over a dispute. It was unacceptable behaviour, especially from a man who had been warned off for his actions earlier, as it was not the first instance when Frost had attracted the attention of the police.

The Australian-born tennis player was charged with match-fixing after approaching a fellow player Oliver Anderson to fix a match in the Challenger Tournament in 2016. Frost had supplied cannabis to Anderson and had given a proposal to lose the first set in exchange for money.

The officials found out about the wrongdoings and they were sentenced to 220 hours of community service after pleading guilty.

4. Nikoloz Basilashvili

Nikoloz Basilashvili grabbed the headlines when he beat the then World No.4 and top-seeded Juan Martin del Porto to win the 2018 China Open. But, a couple of years later he was in the headlines for the wrong reasons, as Georgia’s No. 1 tennis player was arrested on a charge of continuous physical assault by his ex-wife Neka Dorokashvili.

She claimed that the abuse started on her wedding day when he forcefully grabbed her hand after an argument. Amidst COVID lockdowns, the Georgian was arrested and released on bail. He attended the trial remotely in which she further accused him of psychological and economic violence against her.

Basilashvili and his legal team denied all the allegations in the court and the judge cleared him of the charges claiming there was no substantial evidence of the accusations. Dorokashvili was also questioned about her delay in bringing this up if it had been happening for years.

3. Bob Hewitt

Just like you guessed on seeing his surname, he is an Australian but changed to be a South African after marrying a woman from the country. That was not the only change in his life, as he did a rather controversial change which shook the tennis world.

Hewitt, during his playing days, was a champion completing a career Grand Slam in both men’s doubles and mixed doubles during the 1960s and 1970s. Later, like some do, he became a coach to guide the next generation. In 2015, girls who were coached by him accused him of rape and sexual assault.

The news shocked the tennis world and Hewitt denied it all. But, the court, with ample evidence found him guilty and he was sentenced to six years behind bars. While justice was served, it once again highlighted the trauma the girls went through during training and in public.

Also Read: Five Tennis players charged with criminal cases

2. Nick Kyrgios

There is always a sense of amusement when Nick Kyrgios is around. His ranting and trash talks overshadow his performances on the court. It was the same during the 2022 Wimbledon. In the midst of his best run at a Grand Slam singles event, he was accused of violence against his ex-partner Chiara Passari.

During an outing, Kyrgios reportedly pushed Passari onto the pavement after a fight. The tennis star denied the allegations in the first place and tried to dismiss them on mental grounds. Having failed in that attempt, the Australian pleaded guilty, admitting that he was trying to move his partner away from his car after a huge argument, but it was perceived to be an act of pushing.

The magistrate agreed to it and dismissed the charges describing it as “a single act of stupidity by a man trying to extricate himself from an emotional situation.”

1. Alexander Zverev

On the same day when Alexander Zverev reached the finals at the 2024 French Open for the first time, there was another news of him agreeing to a settlement in a domestic violence charge against him. Such has been his career, that a controversy has been on the rounds at the same time when he is in line to achieve greatness on the court.

The German won his first major title by lifting the 2018 ATP Tour finals. But, the start of 2019 was a shocker, as his former girlfriend Olga Sharypova accused him of physical abuse and verbal blackmailing. She even provided a few photographs and screenshots as evidence for her accusations. The 27-year-old denied it categorically and after 27 months of struggle, he was acquitted following a thorough investigation by the ATP.

Just when it looked like he was relieved of the accusations, he faced another set of allegations from another former partner Brenda Patea. 2021 was a year when he was at his best on the court, winning the ATP Tour finals and the Olympic gold. He had also become a father along with Patea in the same year, but the pair had separated after a bodily argument in 2020.

Although the German was proving his worth on the court, the tennis world was divided about the allegations. Finally, Zverev has agreed to a settlement considering their daughter and also to put an end to the talk which seems to be affecting his performances.

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